Linden Unisex

Popularity: #809 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LIN-den //ˈlɪn.dən//

Origin: English; German

Meaning: English: Linden tree; German: lime tree

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Linden has its roots in the Old English word "lind," which refers to the linden tree, also known as the lime tree. This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic *lindō, which is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as the Old High German "linta" and the Old Norse "lind." The linden tree has historically been associated with qualities such as strength and resilience, often symbolizing peace and protection in various cultures.

The name entered the English language through the influence of Anglo-Saxon culture and has been used as both a surname and a given name since the medieval period. Historically, the linden tree has held significant cultural importance in Europe, particularly in Germanic and Slavic traditions.

In medieval times, linden trees were often planted in village squares, serving as gathering places and symbols of community. The tree's association with justice and harmony is reflected in various folklore and legends, where it is often depicted as a sacred tree.

The use of Linden as a name can be traced back to the 19th century in English-speaking countries, where it began to gain traction as a masculine given name, likely influenced by the Romantic movement's fascination with nature and pastoral themes. In addition to its botanical significance, the name Linden has been embraced in literature and art, often evoking imagery of tranquility and natural beauty.

The linden tree's heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers have made it a subject of admiration, further enhancing the name's appeal. While diminutive forms such as Lindy may exist, the name Linden itself carries a strong and enduring presence, rooted in both linguistic heritage and cultural symbolism.

Famous people named Linden

In this section, you will find notable people named Linden. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Linden who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Linden who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Linden Ashby is an actor best known for Melrose Place, Teen Wolf, and The Karate Kid.

Linden Johnson is a musician best known for his work with the band The Black Seeds.

Fictional characters named Linden

The following list of fictional characters named Linden is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Linden Ashby is a fictional character from the TV series Teen Wolf. He is the father of the main character, Scott McCall, and plays a significant role in supporting his son's journey as a werewolf.

Linden is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. They are a key figure in the lore of the series, often associated with the themes of courage and heroism.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Linden, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LoganLiamLucasLilaLara

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Linden. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

LandonLyleLorenLanceLucaLeviLorenzoLachlan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Linden was first seen in the United States in 1889.

Linden has ranked as high as #2139 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Michigan, and Minnesota.

In the past 5 years the name Linden has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Linden is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Linden was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Linden.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 210 129 81
2024 184 114 70
2023 165 95 70
2022 185 95 90
2021 187 112 75
2020 180 107 73
2019 180 100 80
2018 187 106 81
2017 184 107 77
2016 164 99 65
2015 167 89 78
2014 128 70 58
2013 119 54 65
2012 118 59 59
2011 119 68 51
2010 120 58 62
2009 104 60 44
2008 90 55 35
2007 88 42 46
2006 78 43 35
2005 63 35 28
2004 64 44 20
2003 62 35 27
2002 41 24 17
2001 45 25 20
2000 33 14 19
1999 51 28 23
1998 47 33 14
1997 43 26 17
1996 43 20 23
1995 30 20 10
1994 45 24 21
1993 29 12 17
1992 52 22 30
1991 36 14 22
1990 38 22 16
1989 43 25 18
1988 26 13 13
1987 44 23 21
1986 47 16 31
1985 41 19 22
1984 33 13 20
1983 48 22 26
1982 32 17 15
1981 38 22 16
1980 20 13 7
1979 20 15 5
1978 13 7 6
1977 17 9 8
1976 20 11 9
1975 10 10 0
1974 11 11 0
1973 18 18 0
1972 14 14 0
1971 14 14 0
1970 18 18 0
1969 16 16 0
1968 13 13 0
1967 18 18 0
1966 11 11 0
1965 27 22 5
1964 25 25 0
1963 35 29 6
1962 45 38 7
1961 35 28 7
1960 37 31 6
1959 42 32 10
1958 62 46 16
1957 49 38 11
1956 52 47 5
1955 48 38 10
1954 48 40 8
1953 57 49 8
1952 47 34 13
1951 43 35 8
1950 41 32 9
1949 47 40 7
1948 49 43 6
1947 65 57 8
1946 47 41 6
1945 37 31 6
1944 43 43 0
1943 46 46 0
1942 44 44 0
1941 30 30 0
1940 39 39 0
1939 31 31 0
1938 30 30 0
1937 33 33 0
1936 21 21 0
1935 24 24 0
1934 14 14 0
1933 35 35 0
1932 20 20 0
1931 20 20 0
1930 30 30 0
1929 21 21 0
1928 22 22 0
1927 47 47 0
1926 23 23 0
1925 23 23 0
1924 17 17 0
1923 32 32 0
1922 25 25 0
1921 22 22 0
1920 28 28 0
1919 14 14 0
1918 22 22 0
1917 28 28 0
1916 24 24 0
1915 25 25 0
1914 15 15 0
1913 14 14 0
1912 7 7 0
1911 6 6 0
1910 8 8 0
1908 5 5 0
1907 5 5 0
1889 5 5 0

Top States for Linden (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 12
16%
MN 12
16%
TX 11
15%
CO 9
12%
WA 7
10%
NE 6
8%
PA 6
8%
WI 5
7%
OH 5
7%